For the past seven years, professional theatre company The Big Tiny have been making a West End quality pantomime in our theatre in Saddleworth. In the wake of the Oldham Coliseum closing, the Saddleworth panto is perfect for families in need of a panto fix. And what a panto it is too! In the last three years, The Big Tiny have been nominated for Best Script, Best Direction and Best Pantomime at the UK Pantomime […]
by Verity Mann My last count for costumes was 72 which makes it, possibly, our most ambitious project to date and Singers, not Sinners, by Livi Michael and Carol Davies, a walk in the historic park! I could well be wrong on the count though, as once I got above 60 I gave into a little mild, incredulous panic! When you consider that each costume has multiple elements from hats and goggles to socks and shoe […]
NO-ONE can deny Carol Davies’ commitment to making sure a 50th anniversary is marked in the right way – a day-and-a-half making lobster costumes exemplified that.
Throw in controlling 23 cast members, to the point of putting fingers on lips to make sure they stay quiet – with the older ones needing telling most.
That is just a glimpse of what is going into Alice at the theatre at Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre.
It’s 50 years since the Saddleworth Players moved into Millgate Arts Centre, and to mark the occasion director Carol Davies has assembled a cast of 23. Some are veterans of the very first productions at Millgate, and others are drawn from the SPY group of young actors. All of them act their socks off in this production of Alice, by Laura Wade. This is not Alice in Wonderland as you may remember it from childhood. […]
What an interesting play for Saddleworth Players to choose to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their moving into Millgate Arts Centre. With a big cast of 23, it is an opportunity to use their range of actors from Seasoned Seniors (who had been in the first plays at Millgate) to Aspiring Apprentices and those in between. Equally it is an opportunity for the crew- set, costume, props, lighting, visuals and sound- to show their creativity. […]
Wednesday 6th September 730pm in the bar We’re please to announce a play read through / audition notice for our fourth show of the season Murder Margaret & Me . The show is directed by Sue Borg and is on from 13th- 20th April and you’ll need to be available for rehearsal 6-8 weeks before show week. Murder Margaret & Me by Philip Meeks Knit one, bash two. Genteel ladies involved with violent murder […]
reproduced from article by Gary Carter in Saddleworth Independent FULL ARTICLE IN SADDLEWORTH INDEPENDENT HOPES are high Delph’s Millgate Arts Centre can break more records with the 2023/24 season that has just been announced. Volunteers at the venue were left stunned when recent show Silver Lining played to 94 per cent full houses, leaving them wondering if similar may have happened before things were logged on computers. But as its 50th anniversary approaches, with special celebrations […]
Review of Bette & Joan I’ve just had the pleasure of catching the new Saddleworth Player’s performance, Bette and Joan, at the Millgate Art Centre in Delph. It is directed by Melvyn Bates and stars Rachel Harrison and Tracey Rontree as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford respectfully. The action of the play takes place in Hollywood during 1962, at the height of the Hollywood actresses renown feud. It takes place in the background of the […]
As the 2022-23 season finally draws to a close after the next season preview on 18th June and with our end of season supper on Friday evening I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who made a contribution and effort in making it such a success for Saddleworth Players and Millgate Arts Centre There is a small group of around 80 people who have put on plays, films and concerts, […]
Opening Night Review of Silver Lining